Logical reasoning PrepTest 106 · Section 1 · Question 13

Question prompt

People who say that Remaining source text redacted.
Why the credited answer is right

Credited answer: C

The notes below walk through why it fits the stem and how to eliminate the rest.

Argument or Facts

Argument

Valid or Flawed

Flawed

Question Type

Parallel Reasoning Questions / Sufficient & Necessary Questions

Stimulus Summary

Flat land → Soil erosion from water isn’t a problem
Flat land → ~Build terraces to prevent erosion
Dooney County - Build terraces
Therefore - Dooney County isn’t flat

Answer Anticipation

The stimulus here had two conditional premises that shared a sufficient condition. It then attempts to apply one of the conditionals to a specific case by establishing the negation of the necessary condition (in other words, applying the contrapositive), but it fails in doing so because it doesn’t talk about the reason for carrying out that action.
Finally, it concludes the negation of the sufficient condition of the premise. Or:
A → Z
A → B
~B-ish
Therefore - ~A

Answer choices

  1. A
    If we paint the Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice A is not credited
    The conclusion here is about what “should” be done, which is logically distinct from what is done. We can thus eliminate this answer.
  2. B
    People with children need Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice B is not credited
    There’s no conclusion here, just two comparative statements. Since this isn’t an argument, it can’t be parallel to one.
  3. C
    People who get a Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice C matches the stem
    Lot of exercise → ~Problems falling asleep

    Lot of exercise → ~Medication to fall asleep

    Jack - Medication

    Therefore: Jack - ~Lot of exercise

    This argument follows the same pattern of reasoning as the stimulus. It has the two conditionals and the attempt to apply the contrapositive of one. It even has the flaw - the failure to fully establish the sufficient condition of the contrapositive (Medication to fall asleep vs. Medication, ignoring the reason for it). This answer is therefore correct.
  4. D
    If I go grocery Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice D is not credited
    The conclusion here brings in a new concept - losing weight. Since the stimulus doesn’t, this answer is flawed in a way that the stimulus isn’t.
  5. E
    People who have many Remaining source text redacted.
    Why choice E is not credited
    The premise here isn’t a conditional - it’s a tendency. Additionally, in attempting to apply the relationship to Joe, the argument has an illegal reversal, whereas the stimulus attempted to apply the contrapositive (which would have been valid as far as the conditional logic is concerned, it just failed to establish the full sufficient condition).

What this tests

Question analytics

Based on historical answer selection rates for this question.

Answer choice distribution

  1. A 5%
  2. B 6%
  3. C Credited 84%
  4. D 1%
  5. E 4%

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